Ahmed Shafiq
Egyptian presidential candidate says willing to visit Israel
Former Mubarak-era PM Ahmed Shafiq, who is vying for presidency, says he is 'willing to visit hell if it serves Egypt's interests'
Ahmed Shafiq, the last prime minister of the Mubarak
era, who is currently in campaigning in the Egyptian presidential election, said Wednesday that he will be willing to visit Israel
if it proves beneficial for Cairo.
"I would be willing to visit hell if it serves Egypt's interests," he said.
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Shafiq was included in the final candidates' list for the elections after the Cairo Elections Committee accepted his appeal regarding a bill passed specifically to prevent him from running.
Shafiq told Egyptian media that if he is elected, the first country he would visit would be the United States, as Egypt has strategic relations with it.
He also said that if Cairo would eventually opt for a parliamentarian system of government he would withdrew from the presidential race, as such a system give the prime minister the majority of power, leaving with president with very limited authority.
Egyptian polls currently have independent candidate Abd el-Munam Abu al-Fatuah in the lead, followed by former Arab League chief Amr Moussa. Shafiq is ranked third.
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